What is a dispensation? (3)...

When two different groups of people (such as the Israelites under the Law and the church of today) are living under different conditions as set by God, we say that they are living under different dispensations.

The differences between one dispensation and another may be compared to the changes that take place after an election. After a new political party is voted into office, they will often change some of the conditions under which people live. New laws may be introduced in the areas of health care, and education, for example. However, many of the conditions will not change. Cars will still drive on the same side of the road as before, and stealing will continue to be against the law. The Bible may be viewed in a similar way.

When we compare the different dispensations in the Bible with each other we will notice some similarities and some differences. In all dispensations, we'll see that:

* God always loves man;

* Mankind always falls short of God's standards;

* God always offers mankind a way of meeting His standards. However we'll also find that, in some dispensations:

* Jews and non-Jews may be treated differently in one dispensation, and treated equally in another;

* believers in one dispensation may be required to offer up sacrifices, whilst other dispensations do not require sacrificial offerings;

* the performing of miracles and speaking in tongues may play an integral part in one dispensation, and not be as important in another.

We believe that the current dispensation began at Acts 28. To see some of the differences before and after Acts 28, click here.

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